Anderson Cooper: For sitting here talking to me today you could be fined a million dollars. I mean, aren’t you taking a big risk?

Stormy Daniels: I am.

Anderson Cooper: I guess I’m not 100% sure on why you’re doing this.

Stormy Daniels: Because it was very important to me to be able to defend myself.

Anderson Cooper: Is part of talking w– wanting to set the record straight?

Stormy Daniels: 100%.

Anderson Cooper: Why does the record need to be set straight?

Stormy Daniels: Because people are just saying whatever they wanted to say about me, I was perfectly fine saying nothing at all, but I’m not okay with being made out to be a liar, or people thinking that I did this for money and people are like, „Oh, you’re an opportunist. You’re taking advantage of this. Yes, I’m getting more job offers now, but tell me one person who would turn down a job offer making more than they’ve been making, doing the same thing that they’ve always done?

Anderson Cooper: A lotta people are using you for a lotta different agendas.

Stormy Daniels: They’re trying to. Like, oh, you know, Stormy Daniels comes out #MeToo. This is not a ‚Me Too.‘ I was not a victim. I’ve never said I was a victim. I think trying to use me to– to further someone else’s agenda, does horrible damage to people who are true victims

Anderson Cooper: How was the conversation?

Stormy Daniels: Ummm (LAUGH) it started off– all about him just talking about himself. And he’s like– „Have you seen my new magazine?“

Anderson Cooper: He was showing you his own picture on the cover of a magazine.

Stormy Daniels: Right, right. And so I was like, „Does this– does this normally work for you?“ And he looked very taken– taken back, like, he didn’t really understand what I was saying. Like, I was, „does, just, you know, talking about yourself normally work?“ And I was like, „Someone should take that magazine and spank you with it.“ (LAUGH) And I’ll never forget the look on his face. He was like–

Anderson Cooper: What– what was his look?

Stormy Daniels: Just, I don’t think anyone’s ever spoken to him like that, especially, you know, a young woman who looked like me. And I said, you know, „Give me that,“ and I just remember him going, „You wouldn’t.“ „Hand it over.“ And– so he did, and I was like, „turn around, drop ‚em.“

Anderson Cooper: You– you told Donald Trump to turn around and take off his pants.

Stormy Daniels: Yes.

Anderson Cooper: And did he?

Stormy Daniels: Yes. So he turned around and pulled his pants down a little — you know had underwear on and stuff and I just gave him a couple swats.

Anderson Cooper: This was done in a joking manner.

Stormy Daniels: Yes. And– from that moment on, he was a completely different person.

Anderson Cooper: How so?

Stormy Daniels: He quit talking about himself and he asked me things and I asked him things and it just became like more appropriate.

Anderson Cooper: It became more comfortable.

Stormy Daniels: Yeah. He was like, „Wow, you– you are special. You remind me of my daughter.“ You know– he was like, „You’re smart and beautiful, and a woman to be reckoned with, and I like you. I like you.“

Anderson Cooper: At this point was he doing The Apprentice?

Stormy Daniels: Yes. And he goes, „Got an idea, honeybunch. Would you ever consider going on and– and being a contestant?“ And I laughed and– and said, „NBC’s never gonna let, you know, an adult film star be on.“ It’s, you know, he goes, „No, no,“ he goes, „That’s why I want you. You’re gonna shock a lotta people, you’re smart and they won’t know what to expect“

Anderson Cooper: Did you think he was serious, or did you think he was kind of dangling to get you to wanna be involved him?

Stormy Daniels: Both.

Anderson Cooper: Melania Trump had recently given birth to– to a son, just a few months before. Did that– did he mention his wife or child at all in this?

Stormy Daniels: I asked. And he brushed it aside, said, „Oh yeah, yeah, you know, don’t worry about that. We don’t even– we have separate rooms and stuff.“

Anderson Cooper: Did you two go out for dinner that night?

Stormy Daniels: No.

Anderson Cooper: You had dinner in the room?

Stormy Daniels: Yes.

Anderson Cooper: What happened next?

Stormy Daniels: I asked him if I could use his restroom and he said, „Yes, you know, it’s through those– through the bedroom, you’ll see it.“ So I– I excused myself and I went to the– the restroom. You know, I was in there for a little bit and came out and he was sitting, you know, on the edge of the bed when I walked out, perched.

Anderson Cooper: And when you saw that, what went through your mind?

Stormy Daniels: I realized exactly what I’d gotten myself into. And I was like, „Ugh, here we go.“ (LAUGH) And I just felt like maybe– (LAUGH) it was sort of– I had it coming for making a bad decision for going to someone’s room alone and I just heard the voice in my head, „well, you put yourself in a bad situation and bad things happen, so you deserve this.“

Anderson Cooper: And you had sex with him.

Stormy Daniels: Yes.

Anderson Cooper: You were 27, he was 60. Were you physically attracted to him?

Stormy Daniels: No.

Anderson Cooper: Not at all?

Stormy Daniels: No.

Anderson Cooper: Did you want to have sex with him?

Stormy Daniels: No. But I didn’t– I didn’t say no. I’m not a victim, I’m not–

Anderson Cooper: It was entirely consensual.

Stormy Daniels: Oh, yes, yes.

Anderson Cooper: You work in an industry where condom use is– is an issue. Did– did he use a condom?

Stormy Daniels: No.

Anderson Cooper: Did you ask him to?

Stormy Daniels: No. I honestly didn’t say anything.

Anderson Cooper: After you had sex, what happened?

Stormy Daniels: He said that it was great, he had– a great evening, and it was nothing like he expected, that I really surprised him, that a lotta people must underestimate me– that he hoped that I would be willing to see him again and that we would discuss the things we had talked about earlier in the evening.

Anderson Cooper: Being on The Apprentice.

Stormy Daniels: Right.

Anderson Cooper: So he definitely wanted to continue to see you.

Stormy Daniels: Oh, for sure. Yes.

Stormy Daniels: And this was not a secret. He never asked me not to tell anyone. He called several times when I was in front of many people and I would be like, „Oh my God, he’s calling.“ They were like, „Shut up, the Donald?“ And I’d put him on speakerphone, and he wanted to know what I was up to and, „When can we get together again? I just wanted to give you a quick update, we had a meeting, it went great. There’s– it’s gonna be spectacular, they’re totally into the idea,“ and I was like mhmm that part I never believed.

Anderson Cooper: Did you still get the sense that he was kind of dangling it in front of you–

Stormy Daniels: Oh, for sure, oh yeah.

Anderson Cooper: To keep you interested, to keep you coming back.

Stormy Daniels: Of course, of course. I mean, I’m not blind. But at the same time, maybe it’ll work out, you know?

Anderson Cooper: Did you view it as this is a potential opportunity. „I’m gonna see where it goes?“

Stormy Daniels: I thought of it as a business deal.

Stormy Daniels: I remember arriving, and he was watching Shark Week. He made me sit and watch an entire documentary about shark attacks.

Anderson Cooper: It wasn’t at that point a business meeting, it was just watching Shark Week.

Stormy Daniels: Yeah.

Anderson Cooper: Did you have sex with him again?

Stormy Daniels: No.

Anderson Cooper: Did he want to?

Stormy Daniels: Yes.

Anderson Cooper: How do you know he wanted to?

Stormy Daniels: Because he came and sat next to me and, you know, touched my hair, and put his hand on my leg, and r– referenced back to how great it was the last time.

Anderson Cooper: How did you get out of it?

Stormy Daniels: Well, I’d been there for, like, four hours. And so I then was like, „Well, before, you know, can we talk about what’s the development?“ And he was like, „I’m almost there. I’ll have an answer for you next week.“ And I was like, „Okay, cool. Well– I guess call me next week.“ And I just took my purse and left.

Stormy Daniels: I was in a parking lot, going to a fitness class with my infant daughter. T– taking, you know, the seats facing backwards in the backseat, diaper bag, you know, gettin‘ all the stuff out. And a guy walked up on me and said to me, „Leave Trump alone. Forget the story.“ And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, „That’s a beautiful little girl. It’d be a shame if something happened to her mom.“ And then he was gone.

Anderson Cooper: You took it as a direct threat?

Stormy Daniels: Absolutely.

Stormy Daniels: I was rattled. I remember going into the workout class. And my hands are shaking so much, I was afraid I was gonna– drop her.

Anderson Cooper: Did you ever see that person again?

Stormy Daniels: No. But I– if I did, I would know it right away.

Anderson Cooper: You’d be able to– you’d be able to recognize that person?

Stormy Daniels: 100%. Even now, all these years later. If he walked in this door right now, I would instantly know.

Anderson Cooper: Did you go to the police?

Stormy Daniels: No.

Anderson Cooper: Why?

Stormy Daniels: Because I was scared.

Stormy Daniels: Suddenly people are reaching out to me again, offering me money. Large amounts of money. Was I tempted? Yes– I struggle with it. And then I get the call. „I think I have the best deal for you.“

Anderson Cooper: From your lawyer?

Stormy Daniels: Yeah.

Anderson Cooper: Was it hush money to stay silent?

Stormy Daniels: Yes. The story was coming out again. I was concerned for my family and their safety.

Anderson Cooper: I think some people watching this are going to doubt that you entered into this negotiation– because you feared for your safety. They’re gonna think y– that you saw an opportunity.

Stormy Daniels: I think the fact that I didn’t even negotiate, I just quickly said yes to this v– very, you know, strict contract. And what most people will agree with me extremely low number. It’s all the proof I need.

Anderson Cooper: You feel like if you had wanted to go public, you could have gotten paid a lot of money to go public?

Stormy Daniels: Without a doubt. I know for a fact. I believe, without a shadow of a doubt, in my heart, and some people argue that I don’t have one of those, but whatever, that I was doing the right thing. I turned down a large payday multiple times because one, I didn’t wanna kiss and tell and be labeled all the things that I’m being labeled now. I didn’t wanna take away from the legitimate and legal, I’d like to point out, career that I’ve worked very hard to establish. And most importantly, I did not want my family and my child exposed to all the things that she’s being exposed to right now. Because everything that I was afraid of coming out has come out anyway, and guess what? I don’t have a million dollars. (LAUGH) You didn’t even buy me breakfast.

Anderson Cooper: So you signed and released– a statement that said I am not denying this affair because I was paid in hush money I’m denying it because it never happened. That’s a lie?

Stormy Daniels: Yes.

Anderson Cooper: If it was untruthful, why did you sign it?

Stormy Daniels: Because they made it sound like I had no choice.

Anderson Cooper: I mean, no one was putting a gun to your head?

Stormy Daniels: Not physical violence, no.

Anderson Cooper: You thought that there would be some sort of legal repercussion if you didn’t sign it?

Stormy Daniels: Correct. As a matter of fact, the exact sentence used was, „They can make your life hell in many different ways.“

Anderson Cooper: They being…

Stormy Daniels: I’m not exactly sure who they were. I believe it to be Michael Cohen.